Pre World War II Actions and Inactions

Comments (0)

Transcript of Pre World War II Actions and Inactions

Pre World War II Actions and Inactions in Britain #2 Chelsea Beaulne #1 Emily Klingemann In late 1938, Britain attempted to appease Germany and avoid another world war by signing the Munich Pact. This gave Germany permission to invade the contested Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. When Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia a few months later, it was clear that this attempt at appeasement did not work. Later in March 1939, Britain announced that it would support Poland if Germany invaded it.

Germany invaded anyway. In secret, Hitler and Stalin had signed an agreement dividing up Poland between the two powers. Continuing on September 3, 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. This marks the beginning of World War II in Europe. In May 1940, Britain got a more aggressive war-time leader -- Winston Churchill replaced Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister. That same month, on May 26, 1940, the face of the German offensive, British troops on the continent were forced into one of the largest evacuations in history, the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk on the Belgian coast. From July to October 1940, the English people suffered under the Battle of Britain: intense German bombing. But the Royal Air Force valiantly defended its homeland from the German Luftwaffe, and the Nazis were unable to crush British morale. In March 1941, the U.S. began giving direct support to the British in the form of arms and ammunition through the Lend-Lease Act. After Pearl Harbor, in December, America would become directly involved in aiding the British in Europe. In January 1942, Roosevelt and Churchill agreed to establish a Combined Chiefs of Staff and to the make defeating Germany their first priority. (To win the war in Europe would come before the win of the war in the Pacific). After three more long years, the Allies did win the war in Europe. Germany surrendered unconditionally on May 7, 1945. [2] [1] #3 Lainee Schorgl #4 Lainee Schorgl #5 Hailey Walker period 7 Bibliography 1. http://www.historyplace.com/worldwar2/timeline/ww2time.htm2. http://www.worldwariihistory.info/in/Britain.html3. http://www.historyonthenet.com/WW2/causes.htm4. http://www.threeworldwars.com/world-war-2/ww2.htm The Treaty of Versailles limited Germany’s military power. When Hitler decided to create a new air force program, this violated the Treaty’s policies and Great Britain did not agree with the actions they took. When Britain heard more about the plan, they started to practice the policy of appeasement. This meant the European states satisfied the reasonable demands of dissatisfaction power. When Hitler invaded and took over France and Britain he was sure that the western side was weak and could not fend for themselves. Next Hitler demanded the Polish ports to do as he wished so Britain took charge, went to Joseph Stalin, and began political and military negotiations. After Britain and Germany were in a major conflict, Hitler realized that if he wanted to succeed on an invasion against Britain he needed to get control of the sea and also the air. In August 1940, Germany launched their air force called Luftwaffe on an invasion. At the end Britain’s air forces suffered extremely. Hitler’s plan did not work out the way he wanted it to so instead of bombing Britain’s military bases he started to bomb their cities. The League of Nations was created to prevent wars and settle internal disputes to avoid the outbreak of war. Britain joined this to keep peace among the world. The League of Nations was considered a peacemaker without sword or guns. But when the League of Nations did not work, they founded the United Nations. Once the United States joined in on the war there was a Grand Alliance that was formed. It was the United States, Britain, and the Soviet Union. They all agreed to worry about military operations and ignore their political differences. In 1943 they all agreed to fight until the enemies, which were Germany, Italy, and Japan, surrendered. They succeeded and Britain was in the war from day one, never gave up, and made the enemies surrender in the end. Before and throughout WWII, Britain’s economy was suffering. Great Britain and France were allies and Britain helped France declare war on Germany. France and Britain were also the only two nations in Europe that remained democratic throughout WWII. In May 1937, Neville Chamberlain became Prime Minister of Britain. He believed that the Treaty of Versailles had treated Germany badly and that there were a number of issues associated with the Treaty that needed to be put right. He felt that giving in to Hitler's demands would prevent another war. In 1938, Britain attempted to appease Germany and avoid another World War by signing the Munich Pact, which allowed Germany to invade only a part of Czechoslovakia. Later, when Hitler invaded all of Czechoslovakia, it was clear that this attempt failed. Later in 1939 Great Britain announced that it would support Poland if Germany invaded it. But Germany invaded anyways. Secretly Hitler and Stalin had signed an agreement dividing Poland between the two powers. Britain joined WWII in fear of Germany’s growing military power. On September 3, 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. Which marked the beginning of WWII in Europe. [3] [3] [4]